Ireland 22 - 26 France Post Match Discussion

BBC I PLAYER LINK
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b013sd7v/Rugby_Union_2011_2012_Ireland_v_France/

Ireland's worrying World Cup build-up continued as they were again beaten by France in Saturday's clash in Dublin.

Cian Healy's try helped the Irish lead 8-0 but French hit back with 16 unanswered points before the break including a Cedric Heymans try.

A wild Tomas O'Leary pass gifted a second French try to Francois Trinh-Duc after the break.

Jonathan Sexton and Sean O'Brien scored late tries but injuries to Healy and Felix Jones compounded Irish concerns.

Healy hobbled off after half-time while Jones' hopes of being in the 30-man World Cup squad to be announced on Monday could be in tatters after he was stretchered off with a suspected ankle injury.

With Brian O'Driscoll and Gordon D'Arcy both starting after missing the recent defeats by Wales and the French, the Irish made a lively start and the early pressure yielded a sixth-minute penalty for Sexton.

As the Irish backs exhibited quick hands, a bulldozing run from O'Brien increased the pressure on the French in the eighth minute and the move concluded with Healy barging his way over the opposition line.

France's early difficulties included losing injured fly-half David Skrela who was replaced by Trinh-Duc.

However after being on the backfoot for the opening 15 minutes, France suddenly began a fightback.

Irish scrum-half Tomas O'Leary is the son of former Cork hurling star Seanie O'Leary
Alexis Palisson's run needed a crucial tackle by young Irish full-back Jones with a lean-looking Paul O'Connell doing the mopping up on the ground.

Parra's penalty got the French on the scoreboard in the 24th minute after Keith Earls had been caught in possession.

A dreadful clearance by O'Leary was then punished by Trinh-Duc's thumping drop goal from 48 metres in the 28 minutes as the momentum swung France's way.

O'Driscoll appeared to be at fault for Heyman's try on the half hour as the Irish captain allowed Aurelien Rougerie to step inside him in midfield.

Parra converted the try and with the Irish rapidly losing their way, another penalty from the scrum-half increased the French lead to 16-8 by half-time.

As France continued to produce all the pressure after the break, Parra added another penalty in the 44th minute to leave 11 points between the teams.

O'Leary's nervy display culminated with his wild pass, after a botched scrum move, being intercepted by Trinh-Duc who ran in a simple try from the edge of the Irish 22.

Eoin Reddan was introduced moments later but Parra's conversion had extended the French lead to an apparently out-of-sight 18 points.

Possibly of even greater concern to Declan Kidney was the sight of prop Healy hobbling off after the score and young full-back Jones' World Cup dreams may be over after he was stretchered off with a suspected ankle injury.

With the French appearing to ease up in the closing stages, Sexton and O'Brien were able to barge over for late tries but the scores didn't mask Irish struggles.

Stephen Ferris was introduced for his first action since January after injury while Luke Fitzgerald produced a late cameo but there were few positives for the home side as Ireland's misfiring build-up to the World Cup continued.

The scorers:

For Ireland:
Tries: Healy, Sexton, O'Brien
Pen: Sexton

For France:
Tries: Heymans, Trinh-Duc
Con: Parra 2
Pen: Parra 3
Drop: Trinh-Duc

Ireland: 15 Felix Jones, 14 Andrew Trimble, 13 Brian O'Driscoll (c), 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Tomas O'Leary, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Shane Jennings, 6 Sean O'Brien, 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Rory Best, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Jerry Flannery, 17 Tom Court, 18 Mike McCarthy, 19 Stephen Ferris, 20 Eoin Reddan, 21 Ronan O'Gara, 22 Luke Fitzgerald.

France: 15 Cedric Heymans, 14 Maxime Médard, 13 Aurélien Rougerie, 12 Fabrice Estebanez, 11 Alexis Palisson, 10 David Skrela, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Louise Picamoles, 7 Julien Bonnaire, 6 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 5 Lionel Nallet, 4 Pascale Papé, Nicolas Mas, 2 Dimitri Szarzewski, 1 Jean-Baptiste Poux.
Replacements: 16 Guilhem Guirado , 17 Fabien Barcella , 18 Julien Pierre, 19 Thierry Dusautoir, 20 Dimitri Yachvili, 21 David Marty, 22 Vincent Clerc, 23 Luc Ducalcon.

Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (Wales), Tim Hayes (Wales)
Television match official: Iain Ramage (Scotland)

Good man Alyn.

Come on Ireland

eirebilly wrote:Good man Alyn.

Come on Ireland

What do Ireland need, a win or a performance?

All right all

I agree with what Woody just said there. Ireland players will be out to prove themselves worthy of a world cup place.

Right...kettle on and some food!

Cari wrote:All right all

I agree with what Woody just said there. Ireland players will be out to prove themselves worthy of a world cup place.

Right...kettle on and some food!

Yes and try to behave yourself this week
40 Minutes of Ireland is your limit I think

I would be happy with a performance rugbynab. Ireland have only won 1 match of their last 11 against France so a performance is importnant.
I have a feeling though that Ireland may just win today

Alyn - Bowe and Wally aren't playing today; and as long as there's no coverage of Flitzy bending over, I should be OK. Although McFadden could be playing

Go France

Here's hoping Billy! I've got them on my Sportguru picks to win by three.

Cari wrote:Here's hoping Billy! I've got them on my Sportguru picks to win by three.

If they get the performance the Win should come. Will be very interested to see how the back row performs with Jennings on.

God i hope so rugbynab and Cari. Its a strong team that Declan is sending out as well so it will be very interesting. Just no injuries please.

Woo hoo nearly kick off!

I hope Ferris has a good game today. He's just come back after a terrible time with injuries.

I am also hoping that Ferris has a good game, he is a brilliant player when on form.
I want Ireland to win but France are the better side.

I feel that it will take an Ireland performance similar to the one against England for them to win though.

Billy - yeah that would be superb if they put on a performance like that again. They're certainly capable.

Also, France look like they're playing in long johns

I thought Ireland were playing England next weekend.

Jeez the French shorts are tight.

I love the Irish "disco" shirts as well (I call them disco shirts cause they have a shiny/sequinned bit on the chest).

I do love that French anthem

There's some scary looking fellas in the French team...

There's now way were losing this.

Cari - is it more diamantyish?

Ha yeah Irishlondon - it's disco-ey anyway

ooh get BOD with his sticky-up hair.

God i hope not leinster.

I do like that Sexton is starting as well, this is a big game for him.

For anyone who is interested, you can watch the Scotland / Italy and Ireland / France games on top of each other is you close your browser across the stream screen, so you can fit both in, then have 606V2 on the other side of the screen .

I think I just saw Red-Stag on telly!

Was that himself next to the young lady Cari?

so what we going for guys, and lady.
home wins for Ireland and Scotland?

AlynDavies wrote:For anyone who is interested, you can watch the Scotland / Italy and Ireland / France games on top of each other is you close your browser across the stream screen, so you can fit both in, then have 606V2 on the other side of the screen .

That's too much multi-tasking for me!

It looked like him Billy, but I don't think it was him cause he was going with Munsty, depends who he's sat next to. Spitting image though.

Promicing start for Ireland

3-0 Ireland wahoooo

Yay! Good boy Sexytoes.

Blow it up ref!

Yup both IUeland and Scotland are lining up penalties.

3-0 to both Ireland and Scotland.

Murrayfield looks sparse today, shame about the crowd.

Alyn - keep score on the Scots game as I'm not watching that. Ireland doing well...looking quite threatening so far.

Cari wrote:That's too much multi-tasking for me!

It looked like him Billy, but I don't think it was him cause he was going with Munsty, depends who he's sat next to. Spitting image though.

It's easy just turn the volume down on the one your not going to look at much and only watch it during stops in play.

Ireland starting well. Should have taken the 3 points there though

Hmmm Ireland not going for the three points...must be feeling very confident.

Anyone else have another link that can be used outside UK? I'm in America and want to catch the Ireland v France game

GWWWWAAAAAN SEANY!!!

Cari wrote:Alyn - keep score on the Scots game as I'm not watching that. Ireland doing well...looking quite threatening so far.

I'll be watching the Scots game more than the Irish one, I have Italian relatives

Healy you beauty

HEALY!! Woooop!

OBrien for president. Good man church

1F or not SOB has to start in the big games

Great try, only saw the highlight though I went on a raid to the fridge!

Rocky wrote:Anyone else have another link that can be used outside UK? I'm in America and want to catch the Ireland v France game

You have mail

Scotland just scored a fantastic try also.
Ireland and Scotland are mirroring each other, lol.

Brilliant start from Ireland

Skrella off Trinh Duc on